On View

Japanese

Bottle

In the highly intricate and lavish Japanese lacquer technique maki-e, or “sprinkled pictures,” minute pieces of mainly gold and silver flecks are sprinkled onto a still-damp, lacquer background to create designs. Designs could be flat or raised and the process required the repetition of applying, drying, and polishing of the lacquer surfaces.
Pairs of bottles like these would have been part of a larger set of multi-tiered food containers and dishes compacted into a carrying case to be used for outdoor picnics.